Saffron Supplements: Depression Studies and Safety
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Saffron: half-life, strengths and approval status

Status · Approval status · Half-life notes

What is saffron?

Saffron is a spice that comes from the Crocus sativus flower. As a supplement, usually a concentrated extract, it is taken for low mood, mild to moderate depression and anxiety.

Also known as: Crocus sativus, saffron extract.

Amounts studied

There is no intake value or upper limit, and the reviews below pooled trials that used different amounts and products.

Approval status and how it is used

It is sold in the US as a dietary supplement. Under the 1994 dietary supplement law (DSHEA), FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, and the maker, not FDA, is responsible for safety and labeling.

What studies show: a 2019 meta-analysis of trials in mild to moderate depression found saffron better than placebo and not clearly worse than the antidepressants it was compared with (Toth 2019); a 2020 meta-analysis of 12 studies reached a similar conclusion and called for larger, longer trials in more diverse groups (Dai 2020). A 2026 GRADE-assessed meta-analysis of 34 trials (1,769 people) found lower self-rated depression and anxiety scores, but no significant effect on clinician-rated scales, and rated the certainty of evidence as moderate (Mahmoudi 2026).

Safety: the 2020 meta-analysis found no difference in side effects between saffron and placebo or between saffron and antidepressants (Dai 2020). The trials were short, and these reviews do not describe long-term use or drug interactions.

Saffron half-life and time to peak

  • Half-lifeNot listed
  • Time to peak (Tmax)Not listed

We could not find a single published half-life or time to peak for saffron that applies to a supplement dose, so we do not list one. Herbal products are mixtures of many plant compounds, so no single figure would describe them.

How to track saffron in Dose Track

  1. Add saffron as a custom compound. Start typing its name and Dose Track fills in the details from its research library for you to check, and it sits next to everything else you take.
  2. Log each dose when you take it so your history shows exactly what you took and when.
  3. Set reminders on your own schedule, whether that is daily, weekly or every few days.
  4. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

How Dose Track handles peptides · Reconstitution calculator · Half-life calculator

St. John's WortSt John's wort, Hypericum perforatum 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan)5-hydroxytryptophan, oxitriptan SAMe (S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine)S-adenosylmethionine, S-adenosyl-L-methionine

Frequently asked questions

What is the half-life of saffron?+
We could not find a single published half-life or time to peak for saffron that applies to a supplement dose, so we do not list one. Herbal products are mixtures of many plant compounds, so no single figure would describe them.
Does saffron help depression?+
Several meta-analyses found saffron better than placebo for mild to moderate depression. The newest, of 34 trials, found effects on self-rated scales but not clinician-rated ones, with moderate-certainty evidence.
Does saffron have side effects?+
In a 2020 meta-analysis, side effects were no more common with saffron than with placebo or antidepressants. Trials were short, so long-term safety is less clear.
Can I track saffron in Dose Track?+
Yes. Saffron is in Dose Track's research library, so when you add it as a custom compound its details are filled in for you to check. You can then log each dose next to your other compounds, set reminders on your own schedule, and see your history next to your lab results. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

Sources

  1. Mahmoudi R, et al. Effect of saffron on depression, anxiety and mood disorder: a GRADE assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of 34 randomized controlled trials. Nutr Neurosci. 2026;29(7):816-837.
  2. Toth B, et al. The efficacy of saffron in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a meta-analysis. Planta Med. 2019;85(1):24-31.
  3. Dai L, et al. Safety and efficacy of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for treating mild to moderate depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2020;208(4):269-276.
  4. FDA. Questions and answers on dietary supplements.

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